Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 27.9% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 36.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 25% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 29.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.5 IQD 9,819
$5.41 IQD 7,085
38.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.23 IQD 30.4K
$26.69 IQD 34.9K
-12.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 IQD 11.5K
$7.02 IQD 9,193
24.79%
Cappuccino
$3.14 IQD 4,111
$2.58 IQD 3,384
21.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 IQD 627
$0.36 IQD 474
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.2 IQD 261
$0.17 IQD 218
17.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,556
$2.16 IQD 2,827
-9.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 IQD 2,782
$2.58 IQD 3,383
-17.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 IQD 1,811
$1.49 IQD 1,949
-7.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 IQD 1,046
$0.98 IQD 1,283
-18.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 IQD 2,346
$1.63 IQD 2,138
9.82%
Eggs
$1.99 IQD 2,605
$1.7 IQD 2,222
17.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.57 IQD 9,907
$5.81 IQD 7,602
30.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 IQD 6,218
$3.54 IQD 4,640
34.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 IQD 18.4K
$14.45 IQD 18.9K
-2.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,561
$1.17 IQD 1,530
1.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 IQD 1,486
$1.3 IQD 1,699
-13.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,559
$1.32 IQD 1,724
-9.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.77 IQD 1,008
$0.7 IQD 917
10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$0.67 IQD 871
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 IQD 997
$0.68 IQD 893
11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 IQD 1,004
$0.59 IQD 768
30.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 682
$0.46 IQD 600
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 IQD 3,600
$1.86 IQD 2,430
47.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 IQD 18.1K
$11.3 IQD 14.8K
22.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.4 IQD 1,827
$1.58 IQD 2,069
-11.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$1.77 IQD 2,314
14.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 773
$0.54 IQD 711
9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.92 IQD 45.7K
$22.84 IQD 29.9K
52.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 IQD 3,068
$2.34 IQD 3,057
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 IQD 3,060
$2.23 IQD 2,915
4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.02 IQD 9,189
$5.52 IQD 7,221
27.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 IQD 843
$0.73 IQD 949
-12.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K IQD 25.1M
$20.9K IQD 27.4M
-8.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
0.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.7 IQD 130.5K
$78.4 IQD 102.6K
27.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.86 IQD 23.4K
$16.54 IQD 21.7K
7.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 IQD 39.4K
$26.4 IQD 34.6K
14.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72 IQD 94.2K
$38.99 IQD 51K
84.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 IQD 15.3K
$16.47 IQD 21.6K
-28.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67 IQD 15.3K
$7.46 IQD 9,770
56.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 IQD 353.4K
$151 IQD 197.3K
79.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,274 IQD 4.3M
$3,538 IQD 4.6M
-7.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.88 IQD 43K
$23.32 IQD 30.5K
40.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.43 IQD 63.4K
$24.96 IQD 32.7K
94.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 IQD 105.8K
$43.61 IQD 57.1K
85.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 IQD 100.2K
$35.43 IQD 46.4K
116.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 IQD 574.6K
$236 IQD 308.6K
86.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 IQD 365.2K
$180 IQD 235.7K
54.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$718 IQD 939.3K
$583 IQD 763.4K
23.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 IQD 646K
$339 IQD 444.4K
45.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,061 IQD 1.4M
$821 IQD 1.1M
29.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$651 IQD 851.8K
$572 IQD 748.6K
13.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 IQD 658.7K
$608 IQD 795.4K
-17.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
9
59.22%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: October 29, 2025

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